Hinged clip hanger for dovetail channel structure



Feb. 9, 1960 F. D. REILAND HINGED CLIP HANGER FOR DOVETAIL CHANNELSTRUCTURE Filed March 3. 1958 INVENTOR: FRANK D. REILAND BY ATT'Y UnitedStatesPatent HINGED CLIP HANGER FOR DOVETAIL CHANNEL STRUCTURE Frank D.Reiland, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Gateway Engineering Company,Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application March 3, 1958,Serial No. 718,730

3 Claims. 01. 72-105 The present invention relates to an improved hingedclip hanger for use in connection with metallic anchor channels of thetype which are embedded in concrete ceiling and beam structures for thepurpose of suspending from such concrete structure various objects,including metal lath, acoustical ceiling, piping and other fixtures ofappreciable weight.

The principal object of the invention is to provide an improved cliphanger which may be readily inserted into a dovetail channel structureat any desired location and thereafter brought into clamping engagementwith the side walls of such channel structure.

According to the invention, the improved hanger clip is composed of twopivotally connected identical parts, each comprising a metal platehaving greater length than width and having its opposite ends ofi'setrelative to medial portion of the plate. The offset at one end of theplate includes an inclined portion and a lateral flange and the otherend provides an ear portion and is pierced to receive a bolt or otherfastening device.

In the assembled position of the hanger parts, the medial portions ofthe plate elements are arranged face to-face and are pivotally connectedto each other by means of a suitable fastening device. The plateelements are adapted to be moved about their pivotal axis intoregistered alignment. When they are so moved into registered alignmentthe inclined oifset ends and their associated lateral flanges define asectional wedge adapted to fit within and wedgingly engage the sidewalls of the dovetail channel structure.

The dovetail channel structure includes a frangible closure strip whichmay be readily ruptured at the location where the hanger clip isinserted into the channel. This is accomplished by thrusting an end ofthe hanger through the frangible closure. The wedge end of the clip,while it is in its collapsed position, is inserted into the channelthrough the opening thus formed in the closure and the pivotallyconnected plate elements are then rotated about their pivotal connectionuntil they are brought into registered alignment with each other.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in theaccompanying drawing wherein:

Fig. 1 illustrates a channel structure embedded in a concrete structureand shows one hanger clip in its applied position within the channel andalso illustrates a second hanger clip in the process of being installedwithin the said channel structure; and

Fig. 2 illustrates the hanger clip in its fully collapsed position.

Referring to the drawing wherein the improved hanger clip is illustratedin connection with a dovetail metallic channel embedded in a concreteceiling or beam structure and cooperating therewith to suspend therefromstructures or objects of various character (not shown), but whichincludes sub-ceilings, metal lath, sprinkling systems and the like.

The dovetail channel structure designated generally by the numeral isformed of relatively thin metal and is embedded in concrete 11, forexample a ceiling or an overhead beam. The said channel comprises atransverse side 12 and a pair of converging side walls 13-14. Thelongitudinal edges of the converging side walls are formed with reversebends 15-15 adapted to clamp the longitudinal edges of a closure strip16 of builders paper or other readily frangible material.

In practice, the channel structures 10 are nailed to wooden forms (notshown) which support the wet concrete. The purpose of the closure strip16 is to prevent the thinner grout of the concrete from seeping into theinterior of the metallic channel at locations where the edges of thechannel do not fit tightly against the form.

The improved hanger clip is designated generally by the referencenumeral 17 and comprises two metal plates 18 and 19 which are of greaterlength than width. The opposite ends of the plates are offset relativetotheir medial portions 20-20. One offset end portion of each plate18-19 includes an inclined portion 22 and a lateral flange 24. The otherends of the plates 18-19 are provided with apertures 25 for receiving abolt 26 or other suitable fastener, as shown in Fig. 1.

When the plate elements 18 and 19 are moved about their pivotalconnection 21 into registered alignment, the opposed offset ends 2-2-22including the inclined portions 23-23 and the lateral flanges 24-24define a wedge, the inclined sides 23-23 of which correspond to theinclination of the side walls 13-14 of the dovetail channel 10. Thelower ends of the pivotally connected plates 18-19 constitute spacedapart ears between which an attaching strap or bar 27 is secured to thebolt 26 so as to depend from the clip 10 for attachment to the structureor article (not shown) to be suspended from the concrete structure. Thecorner portions 28 of the flanges 24-24 are preferably cham'fered toprovide cam surfaces which move into engagement, one with another, so asto move the inclined portions 23-23 laterally into firm clampingengagement with the sidewalls 13-14 of the channel 10.

When installing the hanger assembly 17 within a channel structure 10,the hanger 17 is collapsed as shown in Fig. 2, or as shown in itspartially applied position in Fig. 1. The hanger when thus collapsed maybe readily thrust through the frangible closure 16 and into the interiorof the channel 10, at any location intermediate the ends of saidchannel. After the collapsed hanger is inserted within the channelpressure is applied to the end portions of the hanger which project fromthe channel to move the elements 18 and 19 into registered alignmentwithin the channel. In this position of the parts, the longitudinaledges of the flanges 24 are in engagement with each other and theinclined sides 23-23 of the said clip are pressed tightly against theinclined side walls 13-14 of the channel 10.

There is a slight clearance between the transverse wall 12 of thechannel 10 and the lateral flanges 24-24 of the hangers so as tofacilitate the pivotal movements of the plates 18-19 of the hanger totheir properly installed position. The application of downward pressureserves to move the inclined portions 2-3-23 of the hangers intoincreasing wedging engagement with the inclined side walls 13-14 of thechannel 19.

Normally there are a series of hangers 17 installed in a channelstructure 19. The number of hangers so used and their spacing along thechannel will depend upon the character and weight of the structuresuspended from the concrete structure.

While the invention has been disclosed herein in connection with certainpreferred constructions, it will be obvious that modifications instructure may be made without departure from the spirit of theinvention. Therefore, it must be understood that the inventioncontemplates all such changes in structure coming within the scope ofthe appended claims.

I claim:

1. In combination witha channel structure embedded in the face of aconcrete body and having a closed "side and opposed sides connectedtherewith converging toward the open side of the channel to provide thechannel with an internal dovetail configuration in cross section, meansfor suspending an object from said channel structure comprising a pairof plate member's formed with opposed inclined portions normally alignedwith each other transversely of the channel structure to provide a wedgehaving inclined surfaces of substantial area bearing flat against theinner faces of said opposing sides of the channel structure, means forpivotally connecting said plates for movement into and out of alignmentabout an axis extending transversely of the channel, whereby the saidinclined portions of the plates are movable' into and out of theiroperative engagement with the opposed sides of the channel structure byrocking the plates about said 20 4 pivotal connection in directionslengthwise of the channel structure.

2. The combination structure defined in claim 1 characterized in thatthe inclined portion of each plate is provided with an inturned flangeadapted, in the operative element position of the plates, to abutagainst the corresponding flange of the adjacent plate to rigidity saidwedge.

3. The combination structure as defined in claim 2 wherein the ends ofthe said inturned flanges are chamfered in opposite directions toprovide diverging cam surfaces movable into engagement with each otherto urge the inclined portions of said plates into operative engagementwith the said opposed side Walls of the channel structure.

Great Britain July 27, 1933 Germany Nov. 19, 1951 UNITED STATIES PATENTOFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Pateut N0 $924,089 February 9, 1960Frank D Reiland Column 4, line 6 for "element" read aligned Signed andsealed this 9th day of August 1960.

(SEAL) Attest:

KARL Ho AXLINE ROBERT c. WATSON Attesting Officer Commissioner ofPatents

